The new Knicks

[St-KriS]

Hey everybody.

I just wanted to get people's opinion on my team the New York Knicks so I got a few questions for the experts on this forum since I don't consider myself an expert, I just love the game , so here we go...

1: How would you rate Zeke's performance as GM so far? Has he improved the team? Set it back? Flucked up our future? We're going to the finals?

2: Was Lenny Wilken's the right choice as coach?

3: Will the knicks make the playoffs?

4: If you answered yes to the previous question, how deep will they go?

5: What low post presence do you think we should go after? (Remembering what players we have to make a fair/or belivable trade to make it happen)

6: And finally, How well do you think the Sprewell/Van Horn trade has worked out for the knicks?

Cheers!

 

[Portmanteau]

1. He landed a superstar, or close enough to one, without giving up a lot... and recreated interest in one of the biggest franchises in the NBA. 10/10, for now.

2. He's an simply interim coach, I forsee Isiah taking over the reigns as early as next season.

3. Yes.

4. Depends on who they come up against. Starbury is big time. Maybe Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, although anything can happen.

5. Kurt Thomas.

6. Given Van Horn's play, it's worked out quite nicely, but if we could cancel out that trade and have Marbury and Spree on the same line-up... pure street cred

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by St-KriS
Hey everybody.

I just wanted to get people's opinion on my team the New York Knicks so I got a few questions for the experts on this forum since I don't consider myself an expert, I just love the game , so here we go...

1: How would you rate Zeke's performance as GM so far? Has he improved the team? Set it back? Flucked up our future? We're going to the finals?

2: Was Lenny Wilken's the right choice as coach?

3: Will the knicks make the playoffs?

4: If you answered yes to the previous question, how deep will they go?

5: What low post presence do you think we should go after? (Remembering what players we have to make a fair/or belivable trade to make it happen)

6: And finally, How well do you think the Sprewell/Van Horn trade has worked out for the knicks?

Cheers!

Good questions here is what I think:

1 Isiah = 5 at the moment however if he can trade Anderson and retain Kurt Thomas I think he deserves an 8. Marbury is a genuine star and may help the Knicks get some other legit players however I think Isiah has payed a sever future price for him too.

2 No. I think he is too old and frankly not strong enough as a coach to survive in NYC, Fratello would have been infinitly better choice. To me this seems like almost a ploy to allow him to become a coach nest year.

3. No.

4 N/A

5. Place some faith into Kurt Thomas. The guy is a legitimate beast at PF.

6. No. Having said that I think Van Horn is being somewhat unkindly treated and not even being given an option to be successfull. Since Isiah taking over the team he has performed rather well and why he was benched for the fourth quarter during the last game I do not know. To me it seems to be a case of Isiah not liking him and pulling strings and Wilkins obaying dutyfully.

 

[St-KriS]

Re: Re: The new Knicks

Originally posted by no1bankteller

5. Place some faith into Kurt Thomas. The guy is a legitimate beast at PF.

I do have alot of faith in ol' Crazy eyes and I cannot question question his defense and his effort, but in the offense, all he wants to do is take jump shots. I just think we need a real low post threat. Meh. Maybe I'm wrong..

 

[St-KriS]

Re: Re: The new Knicks

Originally posted by no1bankteller
Having said that I think Van Horn is being somewhat unkindly treated and not even being given an option to be successfull. Since Isiah taking over the team he has performed rather well and why he was benched for the fourth quarter during the last game I do not know. To me it seems to be a case of Isiah not liking him and pulling strings and Wilkins obaying dutyfully.

I'd agree with that. Keith had been tearing it up quite nicely for about a month and since Lenny's came along, his playing time has decreased somewhat. Actually, alot of Lenny's subs have left me puzzeled.

 

[no1bankteller]

Re: Re: Re: The new Knicks

Originally posted by St-KriS
I do have alot of faith in ol' Crazy eyes and I cannot question question his defense and his effort, but in the offense, all he wants to do is take jump shots. I just think we need a real low post threat. Meh. Maybe I'm wrong..

I do not think that you are wrong but it seems to me that over past few years Knicks have focused on trading for a low post threat to replace Ewing however at no stage have they placed faith in Thomas improving and were more then happy to keep him as a sixth man.

If we look through his career the guy started of as being a five minute man, ie 5 would only get five minutes of court time, and has wokred his ass off to become successful. I truely believe that if Isaiah and co said to him Kurt PF spot is yours he would be more then good enough in the low post.

 

[no1bankteller]

I just found this article on New York Post online it may be of some interest. here is the URL for it too
Rating the Knicks

A-: KURT THOMAS

When Marbury arrived, he said on Day 1 about Thomas, "He's so underrated, it's scary. Because of the dearth of free agents this summer, he could do well for himself when he opts out of his contract. He's been incredibly durable, excellent defensively and nearly averaging a double-double. Isiah probably doesn't trade him unless an All-Star caliber athlete comes back in return.

B: KEITH VAN HORN

He got the fans off his back with a spectacular season opener at the Garden. But his weak-shooting November and assorted injuries contributed to Layden's dismissal. Van Horn is still a streaky shooter but he was on a torrid 14-game stretch from mid-December through mid-January. Marbury has seen a difference from their Net days.

B: ALLAN HOUSTON

One thing Houston can't guarantee is if his right knee will ever be right. Considering he hasn't been close to 100 percent for one game this season because of his summer knee surgery, Houston continues to show the toughness for which he never gets credit. But while last season he mixed up his game with drives and jumpers, he's now purely settling for perimeter shots — likely because the knee's not strong enough — and not posting up enough.

B: FRANK WILLIAMS

Had emerged as the starting point guard before groin injury and Marbury trade. Good change of pace for Marbury but is trade bait.

C+: MICHAEL DOLEAC

Marbury likes the guy a lot and so does Wilkens. In and out of Chaney's confusing rotation, the jump-shooting big man has been much more rugged on the boards. Just wish he'd be a little more consistent on his wide-open jump shots.

C+: SHANDON ANDERSON

Wilkens isn't familiar with Anderson's high-tempo game that could fit well with Marbury, so he's out of rotation for now. Apparently, Thomas isn't fond either, shopping him madly.

C+: PENNY HARDAWAY

Knicks wasted no time installing Hardaway as the backup small forward/shooting guard. He's a big name with a big game in him only once every three nights.

C: OTHELLA HARRINGTON

Still could be traded by Feb. 19 deadline, but he's back in mix with Wilkens, who likes his high energy. Best in small doses.

C: DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

Mutombo is wearing down, his knees and ankles wrapped in ice as he hobbles like an old man around the locker room. He's been seen in agony walking up steps at the Garden. His minutes fluctuate depending on the matchups (24.7). He's been a slight disappointment but on occasion he dominates and just his presence makes them a tad better defensively.

C-: MOOCHIE NORRIS

He's not as bad as Jeff Van Gundy thought but he's too erratic a point guard to play ahead of Williams, which Wilkens has quickly discovered.

D: MICHAEL SWEETNEY

Never has a ninth-overall pick been so disrespected by management. Back on the injured list for the fourth time, Sweetney's confidence has been damaged.

D: CEZARY TRYBANSKI

Put it this way: The Suns wanted the 7-2 project center included in the Marbury deal more than the Knicks did.

Inc: BRUNO SUNDOV

The 7-2 center must not be so bad because Thomas doesn't dig Europeans.

B+ COACH LENNY WILKENS

The most important thing is Marbury loves him. He's never going to trick you but he doesn't sabotage you like Chaney did in all those fourth quarters. He's got an imperious air the players have taken to.

A: PRESIDENT/GM ISIAH THOMAS

He single-handedly put the Knicks back into the NBA limelight in one month. Layden would've dickered around on that Marbury trade, tried to hold back his first-round pick and either Maciej Lampe or Milos Vujanic. Would've been A+ if he leveled with Chaney early that morning and not made him run shootaround and come to the Garden.

================================================

My reading of the Knicks is as follows:

You should try and keep the following players:

Stephon Marbury
Allan Huston (needs to be healty)
Penny Hardaway (needs to stay healthy)
Frank Williams (to me looks pretty good and should be kept, having said that he may be traded to get seom front line help)
Kurt Thomas
Michael Doelac
Michael Sweetney (needs to be given an opportunity, surely he cannot be that bad!)

These players you probably will have no choice, due to their salaries, but you should try and trade them:

Dikembe Mutumbo
Shandon Anderson

These will likely get traded:

Othella Harrington
Keith Van Horn
Mookie Norris (may stay if Frank Williams is traded)

The other two are just spare parts and do not count.

Based on the above playing list the best you can do is try and trade for Rasheed Wallace by offering KVH, Frank Williams and Shandon Anderson. Chances are that that will not be acceptable to Portland unless they decide to dump saleries and problem children... though if Knicks are willing to take on someone like Patterson it becomes a bit more likely. I also have a feeling that Isiah would live to get Studamire to New York. By the way I have no idea about how salary cap works so will not even try to consider that as part of this what if analysis.

For argument sake lets say that this trade eventuates. Well then you would have a playing list of;

Marbury
Huston at guards
Moochi and Penny coming of the bench.

At forward you would have

Patterson
Wallace
bench woudl be Harrington and Sweetney

At Centre you would have:

Thomas

Mutumbo and Doleac would be coming off bench with Doleac swinging between C and PF spots.

This would be a decent squad that you could probably get a play off spot with next year and depending how comitted Wallace and Marbury are in the off season they could go even further.

 

[noogie_da_sheep]

Originally posted by St-KriS
1: How would you rate Zeke's performance as GM so far? Has he improved the team? Set it back? Flucked up our future? We're going to the finals?

If he can get rid of Houston's contract and bring a solid guard who's willing to play defense I'd say he'd be doing well

...so far he's only gotten you guys Starbury, which could turn out to be a great move...but wait and see

3: Will the knicks make the playoffs?

Yes

4: If you answered yes to the previous question, how deep will they go?

They'll get the 8th seed...they'll face us (Indy)...and get swept out of the playoffs

 

[St-KriS]

Originally posted by no1bankteller
I just found this article on New York Post online it may be of some interest. here is the URL for it too
Rating the Knicks

Interesting article that. Thanks

Originally posted by no1bankteller
Based on the above playing list the best you can do is try and trade for Rasheed Wallace by offering KVH, Frank Williams and Shandon Anderson. Chances are that that will not be acceptable to Portland unless they decide to dump saleries and problem children... though if Knicks are willing to take on someone like Patterson it becomes a bit more likely. I also have a feeling that Isiah would live to get Studamire to New York. By the way I have no idea about how salary cap works so will not even try to consider that as part of this what if analysis.

For argument sake lets say that this trade eventuates.

I just ran that through a trade checker and the results were..

New York Trades

PG Frank Williams (4.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.3 apg in 12.8 minutes)
SF Shandon Anderson (7.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.3 minutes)
SF Keith Van Horn (16.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 apg in 34.0 minutes)

New York Receives

SG Ruben Patterson (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Rasheed Wallace (17.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg in 38.3 minutes)

Change in team outlook: -4.1 ppg, +0.2 rpg, and -0.7 apg.

---------------------------------------------------------

Portland Trades

SG Ruben Patterson (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 24.1 minutes)
SF Rasheed Wallace (17.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.7 apg in 38.3 minutes)

Portland Receives

PG Frank Williams (4.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.3 apg in 12.8 minutes)
SF Shandon Anderson (7.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 apg in 23.3 minutes)
SF Keith Van Horn (16.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 apg in 34.0 minutes)

Change in team outlook: +4.1 ppg, -0.2 rpg, and +0.7 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

Due to New York and Portland being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. New York and Portland had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.


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This has been the deal that Zeke has been throwing out at Portland, but so far, they aint biting. They don't want Van Horn, but they would like Kurt Thomas. And that's unlikely to happen since he's currently renogiating a contract extension.

Btw, the site to check out any trade you could imagine is...

http://www2.realgm.com/src_tradechecker.php

I go nuts there making trades that would never ever happen.

 

[no1bankteller]

Originally posted by St-KriS


http://www2.realgm.com/src_tradechecker.php

I go nuts there making trades that would never ever happen.

That is excellent...
Thanks for that one...